Featuring the combined talents of John Garner, Clement Rooney and Jamie Kenny, the Garnish Trio aims to breathe life into tired old standards. With an unusual line-up of violin, keys and double bass, and an enthusiasm for unorthodox instrumental techniques, together they create a fresh and unique sound.

James Kenny, double bass, hails from Edinburgh. He enjoys playing a wide range of music including classical, jazz and folk. In Scotland, James is a regular performer at the Edinburgh International Festival and has worked with some of Scotland’s finest folk musicians including Mary MacMaster, Donald Hay, Leo McCann and Sandy Wright. As a keen Klezmer musician, he also plays with numerous Eastern European music groups.

James is currently studying at the Royal College of Music in London with Thomas Martin. Since joining, he has performed with conductors such as Vladimir Jurowski and Bernard Haitink. In 2009, James played at the South Bank Centre under the famous jazz conductor Michael Gibbs alongside British Jazz legends such as Guy Barker. The concert received rave reviews and was broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

Improvisation has always been a practice about which Clement Rooney feels passionately. During his last two years at the Purcell School he took up jazz piano under Simon Colam and became a member of the Sam Healey (Beats & Pieces) Quartet which held a residency in Brighton. He performed in numerous concerts throughout the UK, including the Purcell School’s 2009 Jazz Gala Concert which featured such legends as Dame Cleo Laine and the late Sir John Dankworth.

Clement has also participated in master classes with eminent musical figures in the jazz world such as Tom Herbert (Polar Bear) and Andrew Bain (NYOS jazz). In February, Clement performed his arrangement of ‘Clapperclowe’ and one of his own compositions at the Cadogan Hall to help raise money for the charity ‘Hemihelp’. Clement is now under the guidance of jazz pianist/composer, Robert Mitchell (Panacea, Quite Sane).